Vehicle-step.



s. W. MATHER. VEHICLE STEP. APPLICATION FILED APR.10,11911.

1,026, 1 02. y Patented May 14, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. W. MATHER.

VEHICLE STEP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1911. 1,026,102, Patented May 14, 1912.

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SAMUEL W. Martina,

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

VEHICLE-sneer.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 31u12.

Application filed April 10, 1911. Serial No. 620,107.

Lfor such vehicles.

To the accomplishment of this and related objects, said invention,then,.consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechas nisin embodying my invention, such dis-v closed meansconstituting, however, but one of the various mechanical forms in whichthe principle of 'the invention may be used. ln said annexeddrawingmwFigur-e is a side elevation partly broken away o a vehicleembodying my invention; Fig. 2 lisa sectional detail on the line B-B,Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the detail shown in Fie'. 2; Fig.4f is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the parts lin different operativeposition; and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on the line C-C in Fig. 1.

T he vehicle body lycomprises in genera-l a drivers compartment and a'passenger carrying compartment 2 designed to hold a conA siderablenumber of persons. Access to thev compartment 2 is had by the doorwhich, of course, may be duplicated on the two sides of the body. A seat4 extends transversely of the con'ipartment 2, opposite the door 3, butin order that the seatmay not be an obstruction to the entrance otpassengers to the other seats in the compartment, the seat et is hingedat to the front wall 6 of the con'ipartmcnt 2. A seat 9 cxtendstransversely of compartment 2 at the rear end thereof, while between thedoor 3 and the seat 9 is still another transverse seat which is eoarranged that it may be opened, so to "speak, to allow accesslo the rearseat 9.

T he invention provides an improved step or running board construct-ion.A plurality of supports 16 are 'rigidly secured to the body 1 along itssides, and in each support 16 is provided a pin 19 which is engaged byan eccentric slot 18 formed in a bracket 17, and to the series ofbrackets 17 is secured a step or running board 21. A pin 23 is pro-videdin thel support 16 below the pin 19, and on the pin 23 is pivoted abracket 22, the series of brackets 22 carrying a step ,or running board25.

In order that the steps 21 and 25 may not descend below a horizontalposition, the brackets which carry them lare formed with projectionsadapted to engage the supports A preferable construction for thispurpose is that shown in the drawings, in which a support 16 consists oftwo parallel members between which the brackets'l and 22 extend, therear ends of the brackets being formed with enlargements 2O and 2erespectively. The steps may be swung on their pivotal axes by anysuitable connections extending to the drivers compartment, cr, ofcourse, they may be operated manulally. Preferably however, a cable 2Gconnected with the lower step 25, and after being led over suitablepulleys 27, is secured to a drum 28 adjacent to the drivers seat. rl`hestep 25 is of a width greater than the vertical distance from thepivotal axis 23 to the pivotal axis 19. Assume' the steps to be inlowered position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. After the passengershave entered the car, the driver rotates the drum 28 which, by means ofthe cable 26, swings the lower step 25 upwardly on its pivotal axis.Owing to its width, t-he step 25 strikes the step 21 and swings itupwardly on its pivotal axis until finally the steps assume thepositions illustrated in Fig. 5, the stepl 21 sliding down behind thestep 25 by reason of the slots 18 in the brackets 17. lVhen, then, thesteps are in what may be termed closed position, the step 25 presents asolid appearance conforming with the side of the body, and the largesteps necessary in al car of such capacity are compactly folded up intoa small space and with a resulting pleasing appearance. By releasing thedrum 2S, the steps assume a horizontal position by their own weight. andare securely held in horiL Zontal position by the projections 20and 24on the brackets 17 and 22v which engage the supports 1G.

Other modes of applying-the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of 16when the stepsv are in horizontal 1n\sition.

the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism hereindisclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims orthe equivalentof such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and dis-` tinctly claim as myinvention 1. In a vehicle; the combination of a vertical support; abracket pivoted to said support; a step secured to said bracket; asecond bracket pivoted to said supportbelowT the first bracket;t a stepsecured -to the second bracket, the width of the last-named step beinggreate than the distance between the pivotal axes of said brackets, andthe iirst bracket and step 'being vunconnected with the' second bracketand step; and

niean's for swinging the second bracket on its pivotal aXis.

2. In avehicle; the combination of a plu-l ralit-y of vertical supports;a series of 'brackets pivoted to the. respective supports; 'a stepsecured to said brackets a second series of ybrackets pivoted to therespective supports below the brackets 'of the first series; a stepsecured'to the brackets of the second series, the width of thelast-named step being greater than the distance between the pivotalaxesl of the brackets cf the first and second series, andthe upperbrackets and step being unconnected with the lower brackets and step;projections provided at the inner e ds ofthe respective brackets anddesignedt engagesaid supports when the steps are' i horizontal position;and means for swinging thel second series of brackets on their pivotal`axes.

3. In a vehicle, the combination of a plurality of vertical supports; .aseries of bracketspivotally and slidably secured to Sadrsupports; a stepsecuredto said brackets a second series of brackets pivoted to therespective supports below the ybrackets of the first series; a stesecured to the brackets of the second. series; the width of thelast-named step being greater .than the distance between the pivotalaxes of the brackets of the irsty and second series; projectionsprovided atthe inner ends of the respective brackets and designed toengage said su ports when the steps are in horizontal position; andmeans for swinging the second series of brackets on their pivotal axes.

4. In a vehicle, the combination of a .plu-

rality of, vertical supports; a series of brackets pivotally andslidably secured to saidsiipports; a step secured to said brackets; asecond series of brackets pivoted to the respective supports below thebrackets of the first series.; a step secured to the brackets ofl thesecond series, the width of the last-named step being greater than thedistance between 4the pivotal axes of the Abrackets of the firstl andsecond series; project-ions provided at the inner ends of the re-.spectivc bracket-s and designed to engage said supports when the stepsare in horizon-l tal position; a cable connected with the .lower step;and a'driiin foroperating said cable.

Signedby ine this 7th da;7 of April. 1911.

SAMUEL lV. MATHER. Attested by ROBERT M. SEE, D. T. Davnis.

